Thermally non-conductive lifting insert for insulated concrete sandwich panels

Abstract

A lifting insert for a concrete sandwich panel is disclosed. The lifting insert includes a fiberglass rod and two end sleeves secured to two opposite ends of the fiberglass rod. The two end sleeves create confinement of fibers of the fiberglass rod to improve stress resistance of the fiberglass rod. The two end sleeves are also separated by a predetermined distance apart from each other to prevent/reduce thermal bridging. The lifting insert further includes two anchoring members secured to the two end sleeves for anchoring the fiberglass rod within the concrete sandwich panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lifting insert for a concrete sandwich panel, comprising:
 a fiberglass rod; 
 two end sleeves secured to two opposite ends of the fiberglass rod, the two end sleeves being separated by a predetermined distance apart from each other; and 
 two anchoring members secured to the two end sleeves, each of the two anchoring members further comprising:
 a metal sleeve having an inner diameter generally coinciding with an outer diameter of the end sleeve; and 
 a continuous steel bar bent at a midpoint along the length of the continuous steel bar, the continuous steel bar having an interior bend radius generally coinciding with an outer radius of the metal sleeve; 
 
 wherein each of the anchoring members is configured for anchoring one end of the fiberglass rod within one wythe of the concrete sandwich panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the two end sleeves are force fit or glued to the fiberglass rod. 
     
     
       3. The lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the two anchoring members are force fit to the two end sleeves. 
     
     
       4. The lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the length is approximately 2 inches. 
     
     
       5. The lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance separating the two end sleeves coincides with a thickness of an insulation board of the concrete sandwich panel. 
     
     
       6. The lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous steel bar is bent approximately 30 degrees at the midpoint. 
     
     
       7. The lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous steel bar is secured to the metal sleeve by at least one of: welding, clamping with a clamp or tying with a wire tie.